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Land ForcesUnited States

M48 Patton

Main battle tankFielded 1952Pending verification
Land ForcesUSA
M48 Patton
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMain battle tank
Date of introduction1952
ProliferationAt least 9 countries
Crew4Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Width3.63 m12 ftMed[1]
Height3.09 m10 ftMed[1]
Combat weight48.99 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
Engine1 x Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790-2D 1Med[1]
Engine power750 hpMed[1]
Cruising range499 km310 mi · 269 nmiMed[1]
Max road speed48 km/h30 mph · 26 ktMed[1]
Fording depth, without Preparation1.22 mMed[1]
Fording depth, with Preparation2.44 mMed[1]
Protection
Hull Armorhull front: 101/120 mm hull sides: 76 mm hull rear: 44 mm hull top: 57 mmMed[1]
Turret Armorturret front: 110 mm turret sides: 76 mm turret rear: 50 mm turret top: 25 mmMed[1]
NBC Protectionlimited protectionMed[1]
Smoke EquipmentM339 smoke grenade dischargers; engine smoke-laying systemMed[1]
Armament
Elevation-9 deg to 19 degMed[1]
Main armamentM68, 105mmMed[1]
Secondary armamentM73 Machine Gun; M60D; The M60D is a mounted variant of the standard M60. It can be mounted on boats, vehicles and as a pintle-mounted door gunMed[1]
Maximum firing range4 km2 mi · 2 nmiMed[1]
Fire control
Computerized FCSYes, The fire control system included a rangefinder, mechanical ballistic computer, ballistic drive, and gunner's periscope. Collectively, these mechanical devices resembled in miniature the fire control systems used in naval gunnery. Only Med[1]
Thermal Sight Tank Commanderthermal sights (Taiwanese and Turkish M48s only)Med[1]
RangefindersThere are two basic types of optical rangefinders, stereoscopic and coincidence. With a stereoscopic model range determination occurred by measuring the distance from the observer to a target using the observer's capability of binocular visMed[1]
Ballistic ComputerM13 electro-mechanical ballistic computer. The mechanical ballistic computer made a more accurate computation of range possible by mathematically accounting for such factors as vehicle cant and ammunition type. Many developmental range findMed[1]
Variants
M48M48: Differed from the M47 in having yet another new turret design and a redesigned hull, doing away with the bow machine gun position, featuring the M41 90 mm gun. These turrets give the M48 its distinctive non-M26 styl[1]
M48CM48C: Over a hundred original production hulls were found to be lacking correct ballistic protection and were relegated to training as the M48C.[1]
M48A1M48A1: New driver hatch and M1 commander's cupola, allowing the M2HB .50 caliber machine gun to be operated and reloaded from within the vehicle.[1]
M48A2M48A2: Improved powerpack and transmission, redesigned rear plate, and improved turret control.[1]
M48A2CM48A2C: M48A2s with an improved rangefinder, M17, new ballistic drive and bore evacuator for the main gun, and the auxiliary tensioning wheels were deleted.[1]
M48 AVLBM48 AVLB: M48A2 chassis, fitted with a scissors-type bridge. All later upgraded to A3 standard.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
Rifle105 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Quantity
54 Rounds
Summary

The M48 Patton is an American first generation main battle tank (MBT) introduced in February 1951. It was designed as a replacement for the M26 Pershing, M4 Sherman variants and M46 Pattons used in the Korean War, and as the successor to the M47 Patton.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United StatesGreeceSouth KoreaLebanonMoroccoPolandNorth KoreaThailandTürkiye
Sources
  1. M48 Patton American Main Battle Tank (MBT), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)